BLUE DIAMOND COAL CO
SC 13D/A, 1997-12-17
BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE SURFACE MINING
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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    SCHEDULE 13D
                                 (Amendment No. 2)

                     Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                             BLUE DIAMOND COAL COMPANY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (Name of Issuer)

                                   COMMON STOCK
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    095383 10 5
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    (CUSIP No.)






                                 December 17, 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Date of Event which requires filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a Statement on Schedule 13G to 
report the acquisition which is the subject of this Statement and is filing 
this Statement because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box: ( )

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this Statement: ( )


<PAGE>

ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

     Holdings has entered into a Proxy and Option Agreement (the "Option 
Agreement") dated as of December 15, 1997 between Holdings and James River 
Coal Company ("James River"), pursuant to which Holdings, among other 
matters, has granted James River an option to acquire the 470,240 shares of 
Common Stock of Issuer owned of record and beneficially by Holdings (the 
"Option").  The Option will expire unless exercised on or before February 13, 
1997. Upon exercise of the Option, Holdings will be entitled to receive 
$60.413 per share of common stock of Issuer plus a contingent right to 
receive additional consideration if certain legislative changes occur that 
reduce Issuer's liability under the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act 
of 1992.

ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

     As of December 15, 1997, Holdings beneficially owns an aggregate of 
470,240 shares of common stock of Issuer representing 50.3% of the common 
stock of Issuer shown as outstanding in Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 
10-Q for the period ended September 30, 1997. As of such date, Holdings also 
may be deemed to beneficially own an additional 2,200 shares of common stock 
of Issuer owned of record by one of its partners, J. Leo Hamilton.

<PAGE>

ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT 
        TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

     Reference is made to the Option Agreement discussed in Item 4 of this 
Amendment No. 2 to this Statement, a copy of which is filed herewith as 
Exhibit 1. Under the Option Agreement, Holdings has agreed to vote its shares 
of common stock of Issuer in favor of any merger transaction between Issuer 
and James River that provides to all shareholders of Issuer the same per share 
consideration that is payable to Holdings upon the exercise of the Option by 
James River (the "Merger"). Holdings has also agreed to vote against certain 
corporate transactions or actions that might impede, interfere with, delay, 
postpone or adversely affect the transactions contemplated by the Option 
Agreement or any merger agreement that might be entered into between Issuer 
and James River with respect to the Merger.

ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

1.  Proxy and Option Agreement dated as of December 15, 1997 between Hamilton 
    Holdings, Ltd. and James River Coal Company.


                                 SIGNATURE

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their respective knowledge 
and belief, the undersigned hereby certifies that the information set forth
in this Statement is true, complete and correct.

                                               HAMILTON HOLDINGS, LTD.

                                               By: TYE FORK COAL COMPANY,
                                                   General Partner

Date: December 17, 1997                            By: /s/ Thomas R. Hamilton
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                    Thomas R. Hamilton,
                                                    President



<PAGE>

==============================================================================






                                           
                              PROXY AND OPTION AGREEMENT
                                        AMONG
                               HAMILTON HOLDINGS, LTD.
                                         AND
                               JAMES RIVER COAL COMPANY
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                             
                                           
                            DATED AS OF DECEMBER 15, 1997
                                             
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
==============================================================================

<PAGE>

                            PROXY AND OPTION AGREEMENT

          THIS PROXY AND OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of December 15, 1997 (this
"Agreement"), by and between  Hamilton Holdings, Ltd., a Kentucky limited
partnership ("Stockholder"), and James River Coal Company, a Virginia 
corporation ("JRCC"), recites and provides as follows.  

          WHEREAS, the Stockholder collectively owns of record and beneficially
470,240 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Company Common
Stock"), of Blue Diamond Coal Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company")
(such Stockholder's shares, together with any other voting or equity securities
of the Company hereafter acquired by Stockholder prior to the termination of
this Agreement, being referred to collectively as the "Shares");

          WHEREAS, JRCC and Stockholder have discussed the desire of JRCC to (a)
negotiate, execute and consummate an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger
Agreement") pursuant to which the Company will merge with and into JRCC or one
of its subsidiaries or (b) make a cash tender offer pursuant to a Merger
Agreement, or otherwise, for all outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (the
"Tender Offer") followed by a merger of the Company with and into JRCC or one of
its subsidiaries, in either such case for a price per share of Company Common
Stock equal to the Purchase Price, as defined herein  (in either such case, the
"Merger"); and

          WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of JRCC to pursue the 
Merger, JRCC has requested that Stockholder agree, and in order to induce 
JRCC to take certain actions and incur substantial expenses in pursuit 
thereof, Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this Agreement.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1.        VOTING OF SHARES; IRREVOCABLE PROXY.

          (a)  During the term of this Agreement, Stockholder in its capacity as
such, hereby agrees to vote all of its Shares at any annual, special or
adjourned meeting of the stockholders of the Company (1) in favor of the Merger,
the execution and delivery by the Company of the Merger Agreement and the
approval and adoption of the terms thereof and hereof; and (2) except as
otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by JRCC, against the following actions
(other than the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement): (i) any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or its
subsidiaries with any person, other than JRCC; (ii) a sale, lease or transfer of
a material amount of assets of the Company or one of its subsidiaries, or a
reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution or liquidation of the Company or
its subsidiaries; or (iii) (A) any change in a majority of the persons who
constitute the Board of Directors of the Company as of the date hereof; (B) any
change in the present capitalization of the Company or any amendment of the
Company's certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as amended to date; (C) any
other 

<PAGE>

material change in the Company's corporate structure or business; or (D) any 
action that is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to impede, 
interfere with, delay, postpone, or adversely affect the Merger and the other 
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement.

          (b)  Stockholder hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints JRCC 
as its sole and exclusive and true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, 
with full power of substitution, to vote all Company Common Stock that the 
holder is entitled to vote as indicated in Paragraph 1(a) above in favor of 
the Merger, to the same extent and with the same effect as the Stockholder 
might or could do under any applicable laws or regulations governing the 
rights and powers of stockholders of a Delaware corporation.  This proxy 
shall become effective as of the date hereof and shall expire upon 
termination of this Agreement.  This proxy is coupled with an interest and 
shall be irrevocable and binding upon any and all transferees of the Shares 
so long as it remains in effect pursuant to the terms hereof.  Stockholder 
will take such further action as may be necessary to effect the foregoing and 
hereby revokes any proxy previously granted by Stockholder with respect to 
the Shares.

2.        TENDER OF SHARES.

          (a)  During the term of this Agreement, and in the event JRCC 
commences a Tender Offer pursuant to a Merger Agreement or otherwise, 
Stockholder hereby agrees to validly tender and sell (and not withdraw) 
pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Tender Offer all of such 
Stockholder's Shares, provided such Shares are purchased and paid for on or 
before the Option Expiration Date (as defined below).  Notwithstanding the 
provisions of this Section 2(a), in the event Stockholder withdraws its 
Shares from the Tender Offer for any reason or any such Shares are not 
purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer, such Shares shall remain subject to 
the terms of this Agreement. Stockholder acknowledges that JRCC's obligation 
to accept for payment and pay for the Shares in the Tender Offer is subject 
to all the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer.

          (b)  Stockholder hereby agrees to permit JRCC to publish and 
disclose in the Offer to Purchase and all other related offering materials 
filed by JRCC with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or 
otherwise by JRCC in connection with the Tender Offer and, if approval of the 
stockholders of the Company is required under applicable law in connection 
with the Merger, in the proxy statement sent to the stockholders of the 
Company, including all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, its 
identity and ownership of Company Common Stock and the nature of its 
commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement.

          (c)  The terms of this Agreement shall apply to all Shares issued 
pursuant to the exercise of stock options issued by the Company to 
Stockholder, and Stockholder agrees to tender all Shares issued upon the 
exercise of such stock options.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement 
to the contrary, (i) until the exercise of any such stock options, the term 
"Shares" as used herein shall be deemed not to include any such stock 
options, and (ii) nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require 
Stockholder to exercise such stock options in order to tender the Shares 
issued upon such exercise.

                                        3
<PAGE>

3.        NONREFUNDABLE PAYMENT.  

          (a)  In consideration for Stockholder (i) agreeing to vote its 
shares and granting to JRCC the irrevocable proxy provided for in Paragraph 1 
above; (ii) agreeing to tender its Shares as provided in Paragraph 2 above; 
and (iii) granting the Option provided for in Paragraph 4, JRCC shall pay to 
Stockholder $1,000,000 on the date hereof.  Such amount shall, subject to 
Paragraphs 3(b) and (c) below, be nonrefundable, but shall be credited in 
full against the amount Stockholder would otherwise be entitled to receive 
upon conversion of its Shares in the Merger, pursuant to any Tender Offer or 
pursuant to the exercise of the Option provided in Paragraph 4 below.

          (b)  If the Shares, on a fully diluted basis, do not represent a 
majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock on the 
date established for the purchase of the Shares by JRCC, whether in 
accordance with the Merger or upon exercise of the Option, the $1,000,000 to 
be paid by JRCC pursuant to Paragraph 3(a) above shall be fully refundable to 
JRCC.

          (c)  If Stockholder's representations and warranties set forth in 
paragraph 10 are not true and correct, if Stockholder breaches any covenant 
or agreement set forth herein or if the Company is not exempt from Section 
203 of the Delaware General Corporation Laws, the $1,000,000 to be paid by 
JRCC pursuant to Paragraph 3(a) above shall be fully refundable to JRCC.

4.        OPTION TO PURCHASE SHARES.

          (a)  Stockholder hereby grants to JRCC an option (the "Option") to 
purchase on or before February 13, 1998 (the "Option Expiration Date") all of 
the Shares at a purchase price per Share (the "Purchase Price") equal to the 
sum of (i) $60.413 in cash plus (ii) the right to receive after the Closing 
Date (as defined below) the Contingency Amount, if any, as defined below, 
divided by the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the 
date the Shares are purchased pursuant to the Option or the Merger, as 
applicable.  JRCC may give Stockholder written notice (the "Notice") of its 
intent to exercise the Option at any time during the term of this Agreement.  
The Notice shall specify the date (the "Closing Date") established for 
purchasing the Shares which shall be no later than 2 business days following 
the date of the Notice.  On the Closing Date, JRCC shall wire transfer to an 
account designated by Stockholder an amount equal to the difference between 
(i) the product of the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Shares and 
(ii) $1,000,000.  Upon receipt of payment Stockholder shall deliver to JRCC 
stock certificates evidencing the Shares endorsed in blank or accompanied by 
applicable stock powers, plus such other documents of conveyance as JRCC may 
reasonably request.

          (b)  The Contingency Amount shall mean an amount equal to 50% of 
any reduction (net of any applicable federal and state income taxes) between 
the date hereof and the fifth anniversary of the date hereof in the Company's 
liability under the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act of 1992 (the 
"Act"), such reduction arising solely as a result of federal legislation 
enacted after the date hereof or a non-appealable judicial determination 
which in either case reduces the amount required to be paid by the Company to 
retirees or their beneficiaries or reduces the number of retirees that the 
Company is required to compensate.  Such amount shall be determined by 
William M. Mercer, Inc., or another firm mutually acceptable to JRCC and 
Stockholder, with the expenses of engaging such firm borne by JRCC. 

                                        4

<PAGE>

5.        TRANSFER OF THE SHARES.

          During the term of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided 
herein, Stockholder shall not (a) offer to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose 
of or transfer any interest in or encumber with any lien, any of the Shares, 
(b) deposit the Shares into a voting trust, enter into a voting agreement or 
arrangement with respect to such Shares or grant any proxy or power of 
attorney with respect to such Shares, or (c) enter into any contract, option 
or other arrangement or undertaking with respect to the direct or indirect 
acquisition or sale, assignment or other disposition of or transfer of any 
interest in or the voting of any shares of Company Common Stock or any other 
securities of the Company.

6.        NO SOLICITATION.

          During the term of this Agreement, neither Stockholder nor any 
partner, director, officer, employee, affiliate or representative of 
Stockholder or any representative of such person or entity, shall institute, 
pursue, encourage or continue any discussions, negotiations or agreements 
(whether preliminary or definitive), including providing any information, 
with any person or entity other than JRCC contemplating or providing for any 
public or private offering of equity, merger, share exchange, acquisition, 
purchase or sale of a significant amount of shares or assets or other 
business combination or change in control of the Company.  Stockholder shall 
not furnish any non-public information to any party other than JRCC with 
respect to such a proposed transaction.  Stockholder shall promptly notify 
JRCC to the extent that it receives any inquiry relating to any such 
transaction.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, any partner of the Stockholder who 
is also a director of the Company may furnish information to, and participate 
in discussions or negotiations with, any third party if he determines in good 
faith, based upon the written advice of outside legal counsel, that the 
failure to take such action would be reasonably likely to constitute a breach 
of his fiduciary duties under applicable law as a director of the Company.

7.        AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT MERGER.

          Stockholder, in its capacity as such, hereby agrees to support the 
efforts of JRCC to consummate the Merger.

8.        WAIVER OF APPRAISAL RIGHTS.

          Stockholder hereby irrevocably waives any rights of appraisal or 
rights to dissent from the Merger that Stockholder may have.

9.        AGREEMENT TO EXTEND NALLY & HAMILTON AGREEMENTS

          In the event the Company has not previously extended the Coal 
Supply Agreement and the Indenture of Sublease, each dated March 31, 1993 
between Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. and the Company (the "Nally & 
Hamilton Agreements") prior to the effective time of the Merger, JRCC and 
Stockholder agree to cause the parties to the Nally & Hamilton Agreements to 

                                        5
<PAGE>

extend such agreements on terms identical to those currently in effect for a 
period beginning on the date of the effective time of the Merger and ending 
on the date three years thereafter.

10.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDER.

          Stockholder represents and warrants to JRCC, as to the Company, 
itself and with respect to its Shares, as follows:

          (a)  Stockholder's Shares constitute all of the shares of Company 
Common Stock beneficially owned (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the 
Securities Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, by Stockholder, 
other than 2,200 shares of Common Stock owned by Leo Hamilton.

          (b)  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder 
does not, and the performance by Stockholder of its obligations hereunder 
will not, constitute a violation of, conflict with, result in a default (or 
an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a 
default) under, or result in the creation of any lien on any of Stockholder's 
Shares under (i) any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding, 
arrangement or restriction of any kind to which Stockholder is a party or by 
which Stockholder is bound, (ii) any judgment, writ, decree, order or ruling 
applicable to Stockholder, or (iii) the organizational documents of such 
Stockholder, if applicable.

          (c)  Stockholder has full power and authority to execute, deliver 
and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated 
hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the 
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and 
validly authorized and except for the notices and filings referenced in 
paragraph (d) below, no other actions on the part of Stockholder are required 
in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  This Agreement 
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Stockholder and, assuming 
due authorization, execution and delivery by JRCC, constitutes a valid and 
binding agreement of Stockholder, enforceable against Stockholder in 
accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be 
limited by applicable bankruptcy, organization, insolvency, moratorium or 
other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by 
general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is 
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

          (d)  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the 
performance by Stockholder of its obligations hereunder will (i) violate any 
order, writ, injunction or judgment applicable to Stockholder or (ii) violate 
any law, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Stockholder or 
require any consent, authorization or approval of, filing with or notice to, 
any court, administrative agency or other governmental body or authority, 
other than any required notices or filings pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino 
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations 
promulgated thereunder (the "HSR Act") or the federal securities laws.

11.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF JRCC.

          JRCC represents and warrants to Stockholder as follows:

          (a)  JRCC is (i) duly organized and validly existing and in good 
standing under the laws of 

                                        6
<PAGE>

Virginia, (ii) has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and 
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated 
hereby, and (iii) has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the 
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.  This Agreement has 
been duly and validly executed and delivered by JRCC and constitutes the 
legal, valid and binding obligation of JRCC, enforceable against JRCC in 
accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be 
limited by applicable bankruptcy, organization, insolvency, moratorium or 
other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by 
general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is 
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

          (b)  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by JRCC does not, 
and the performance by JRCC of its obligations hereunder will not, constitute 
a violation of, conflict with, or result in a default (or an event which, 
with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default) under, its 
charter or bylaws or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding, 
arrangement or restriction of any kind to which JRCC is a party or by which 
JRCC is bound or any judgment, writ, decree, order or ruling applicable to 
JRCC.

          (c)  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the 
performance by JRCC of its obligations hereunder will violate any order, 
writ, injunction, judgment, law, decree, statute, rule or regulation 
applicable to JRCC or require any consent, authorization or approval of, 
filing with, or notice to, any court, administrative agency or other 
governmental body or authority, other than any required notices or filings 
pursuant to the HSR Act or the federal securities laws.

12.       ENFORCEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT.

          Stockholder acknowledges that irreparable damage would occur in the 
event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in 
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.  It is 
accordingly agreed that JRCC will be entitled (i) to an injunction or 
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and (ii) to specifically 
enforce the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or 
any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to 
which it is entitled at law or in equity.

13.       ADJUSTMENTS.

          The number and type of securities subject to this Agreement will be 
appropriately adjusted in the event of any stock dividends, stock splits, 
recapitalizations, combinations, exchanges of shares or the like or any other 
action that would have the effect of changing Stockholder's ownership of the 
Company's capital stock or other securities.

14.       TERMINATION.

          (a)  This Agreement will automatically terminate on the earlier of 
(a) the effective time of the Merger and (b) 60 days following the date 
hereof.

          (b)  Upon termination of this Agreement, all obligations of the 
parties hereto shall terminate except to the extent that any such party has 
committed a material breach of this Agreement prior to such termination and 
except that the right to the Contingency Amount and JRCC's obligations under 
Paragraph 9 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

                                        7
<PAGE>



15.       EXPENSES.

          All fees and expenses incurred by any of the parties hereto shall 
be borne by the party incurring such fees and expenses.

16.       MISCELLANEOUS.

          (a)  All representations and warranties contained herein shall 
survive the termination hereof, but shall not survive the effective time of 
the Merger.

          (b)  Any provision of this Agreement may be waived at any time by 
the party that is entitled to the benefits thereof.  No such waiver, 
amendment or supplement shall be effective unless in writing signed by the 
party or parties sought to be bound thereby. Any waiver by any party of a 
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be 
construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any 
breach of any other provision of this Agreement. The failure of a party to 
insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement or one or more 
sections hereof shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the 
right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other 
term of this Agreement.

          (c)  This Agreement contains the entire agreement among JRCC and 
Stockholder with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all 
prior agreements among JRCC and Stockholder with respect to such matters.  
This Agreement may not be amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise 
modified, except upon the delivery of a written agreement executed by the 
parties hereto.

          (d)  The descriptive headings contained herein are for convenience 
and reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or 
interpretation of this Agreement.

          (e)  Any notice provided for in this Agreement will be in writing 
and will be either personally delivered, sent by reliable overnight courier, 
telecopied or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the 
recipient at the address below indicated.

NOTICES TO JRCC:

James River Coal Company
701 East Byrd Street, Suite 1100
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Attention:  James B. Crawford, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone Number: (804) 780-3000
Telecopy Number:  (804) 780-0643

With a copy (which will not constitute notice to JRCC) to:

Hunton & Williams
Riverfront Plaza, East Tower
951 East Byrd Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Attention:  T. Justin Moore, III Esq.
Telephone Number: (804) 788-8464
Telecopy Number:  (804) 788-8218


                                        8
<PAGE>


NOTICES TO STOCKHOLDER:

Hamilton Holdings, Ltd.
P. O. Box 157
Bardstown, Kentucky  40004
Attention:  Mr. Thomas Hamilton
Telephone Number: (502) 348-0084
Telecopy Number:  (502) 348-2552

With a copy (which will not constitute notice to Stockholder) to:

David W. Harper, Esq.
2450 Meidinger Tower
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Telephone Number: (502) 583-3081
Telecopy Number: (502) 583-2418

or to such other address or to the attention of such other party as any party
may have furnished to the other parties in writing in accordance herewith.

          (f)  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, 
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together 
shall constitute one agreement.

          (g)  This Agreement is binding upon and is solely for the benefit 
of the parties hereto and their respective successors, legal representatives 
and assigns.  Except as provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any of 
the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned by 
any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other 
parties, except that JRCC shall have the right to assign to any direct or 
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of JRCC any and all rights and obligations 
of JRCC under this Agreement, PROVIDED that any such assignment shall not 
relieve JRCC from any of its obligations hereunder.

          (h)  All rights, powers and remedies provided under this Agreement 
or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity shall be 
cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise of any thereof by either 
party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other such 
right, power or remedy by such party.

          (i)  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be 
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, 
but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, or 
unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any 
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect 
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be 
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, 
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. 

                                        9
<PAGE>


          (j)  All questions concerning the construction, validity and 
interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in 
accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware, without giving 
effect to any choice of law provision or rule (whether of the State of 
Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the 
laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this 
Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

                                   HAMILTON HOLDINGS, LTD.

                                   By:  TYE FORK COAL COMPANY, 
                                        General Partner


                                   By: /S/ Thomas R. Hamilton
                                       ----------------------------------
                                       Thomas R. Hamilton, President



                                   JAMES RIVER COAL COMPANY



                                   By: /S/ James B. Crawford
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       Name:  James B. Crawford
                                       Title: Chairman of the Board



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